Computers The Commodore 64 Returns!

Pushead2 · 05-09-2011, 09:02 AM

http://www.cnn.com/2011/TECH/gaming....ex.html?hpt=C2

(CNN) -- It was chunky, a hideous tan color, and, by today's standards, ridiculously feeble.

It was limited to 64 kilobytes of memory -- about the equivalent of one long e-mail.

And yet 25 years ago, almost everyone seemed to have one.

It was the Commodore 64, an 8-bit, mass-produced machine that brought personal computing into the home for millions of users in the early- and mid-1980s. People used their C64s, as they were known, for everything from basic office functions to primitive games like "Impossible Mission."

Commodore sold more than 17 million of its C64 systems, according to the company. The Guinness Book of World Records lists the Commodore 64 as the best-selling single computer model of all time.

"Spent hours and hours writing little programs for my then very young kids .... happy days," wrote Ian Mumby last month on a Commodore 64 Facebook page. "Still have the c64 in the loft, may have to go dig it out and play."

Now, nearly three decades after it debuted in 1982, the Commodore 64 is making a comeback. The company that built it, Commodore International, went bankrupt in 1994. But a revived outfit, Commodore USA, plans to release a line of retro-looking Commodore computers this month that have modern components inside.

On the outside, these self-contained "keyboard computers" will look as they did back when Ronald Reagan was in the White House and "Miami Vice" was bringing moody pastel hues to TV. Under the hood, however, they will be very up-to-date.

The new Commodore 64's hardware includes a dual-core 1.8 Ghz Atom processor, Nvidia Ion2 graphics chipset, up to 4 GB of RAM and HDMI output for desktop viewing on TV. It also features USB connectivity, a multi-format memory card reader and Wi-Fi capability.

Prices start at $595 -- the same as the original machine. A monitor and mouse are sold separately. Pre-sales are under way, and Commodore is promising delivery by early June.

Commodore USA President and CEO Barry Altman said he sought out the owners of the defunct Commodore brand and acquired the licenses to the name. He wasn't planning to reproduce a Commodore 64 model at first, but changed his mind after being flooded with requests on his website.

Altman, whose reborn Commodore company is based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, began taking pre-orders on the site April 5 and was stunned by the response.

"The demand for this unit is worldwide. It's far, far exceeding our wildest expectations," Altman told CNN. He said about 20,000 models were ordered in each of the first few days they went on sale in early April.

"Because it's so retro, it's even been popular among kids who weren't even alive when the (original) 64 was around," he said.

Altman became sold on Commodores when he ran his satellite communications company on almost 200 Commodore 64s in the 1980s.

"It was a great product, with a great form factor," he said. "It contains the entire computer inside the keyboard. It takes up no extra room."

The C64 became hugely popular because it had more memory and was much cheaper than comparable models from IBM and Apple. It could also be hooked up to almost any ordinary television, which served as a monitor.

Altman said his research showed brand recognition of 87% for the Commodore 64, a remarkable score for a model that's been off the market for 17 years.

Options range from a classically styled $250 plastic shell for DIYers who want to insert their own motherboard and hard drive, to a fully loaded $895 "Ultimate" system with 1 TB of storage space and a Blu-ray drive.

Commodore's historical VIC line of 8-bit personal computers is also getting an overhaul. And Altman promises a new line of computers based on the popular Commodore Amiga brand will also arrive soon.

Replicating the look and feel of the original Commodore 64 machines was a "monumental undertaking," he said. To get the distinctive tan color just right, Altman had to send samples to a lab to be analyzed and reproduced.

"That original color -- brown, tan, beige, whatever you want to call it -- must have been designed by an alien," he said.

The original Commodore 64s may conjure up fond memories in millions of former arcade-loving adolescents. But will the system's storied past and chunky beige aesthetic be enough to attract today's computer users, who have been weaned on the sleek stylings and slick interfaces of Apple devices?

If Altman is worried about that, he's not saying.

"I was taken by surprise by the scope of (the interest)," he told CNN. "Nostalgia is a big thing. There are a tremendous amount of people who have been brought up on the Commodore 64."

bowener · 05-09-2011, 12:55 PM

trying to be retro or just missed that this is a repost?

Molitoth · 05-09-2011, 12:56 PM

rofl. FAIL. The specs inside aren't even that good, and who the eff would want an ugly ass C64 system?

Bump · 05-09-2011, 01:32 PM

I'm ready for a new generation of consoles and a new generation of servers for online gaming, but I don't think that the c64 is it.

Pants · 05-09-2011, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bump

I'm ready for a new generation of consoles and a new generation of servers for online gaming, but I don't think that the c64 is it.

Yeah, I heard Xbox 3 will have 12 gigs of RAM, a custom 18-core processor built by AMD (running at 3.4GHz) and 2 directX 11 AMD/ATI cards running in CrossFire. It will also have 240gb of SSD. I have no idea how they're going to prevent that thing from melting down.

crispystl · 05-09-2011, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pants

Yeah, I heard Xbox 3 will have 12 gigs of RAM, a custom 18-core processor built by AMD (running at 3.4GHz) and 2 directX 11 AMD/ATI cards running in CrossFire. It will also have 240gb of SSD. I have no idea how they're going to prevent that thing from melting down.

Holy shit are you serious?

Pedro · 05-09-2011, 06:47 PM

I think it's kind of a cool idea. If the NFL can wear retro uniforms, I like the idea of using retro computers.

**notorious** · 05-09-2011, 08:33 PM

Atom processor = FAIL

beach tribe · 05-09-2011, 08:43 PM

C64 can look forward to bankruptcy again.

beach tribe · 05-09-2011, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crispystl420

Holy shit are you serious?

http://www.gameranx.com/updates/id/7...s-speculation/

Frazod · 05-09-2011, 09:08 PM

Here's an idea - let's bring back the Chevy Chevette, only with a bad ass modern engine!

Crush · 05-10-2011, 12:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pants

Yeah, I heard Xbox 3 will have 12 gigs of RAM, a custom 18-core processor built by AMD (running at 3.4GHz) and 2 directX 11 AMD/ATI cards running in CrossFire. It will also have 240gb of SSD. I have no idea how they're going to prevent that thing from melting down.

Magic and lots of ice.

Bump · 05-10-2011, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beach tribe

http://www.gameranx.com/updates/id/7...s-speculation/

I just got hard.

2014 though at the earliest. But I might camp out for that.

If only they could maybe come up with some new technology for servers and internet connections. I can't stand playing call of duty anymore, I'm so tired of the lag and I'm paying $70 a month for internet.

**dannybcaitlyn** · 05-11-2011, 08:17 AM

When my parents bought my commodore 64 it was a nail in the coffin for my Atari game sytem. My friends and I would play the crap out of winter games, summers games and worldgames.

**Lzen** · 05-11-2011, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frazod

Here's an idea - let's bring back the Chevy Chevette, only with a bad ass modern engine!

Oh yeah!! I used to drive a Chevette when I was about 19.

05-09-2011, 09:02 AM
Pushead2 **** off Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: New York Casino cash: $6331882	The Commodore 64 Returns! http://www.cnn.com/2011/TECH/gaming....ex.html?hpt=C2 (CNN) -- It was chunky, a hideous tan color, and, by today's standards, ridiculously feeble. It was limited to 64 kilobytes of memory -- about the equivalent of one long e-mail. And yet 25 years ago, almost everyone seemed to have one. It was the Commodore 64, an 8-bit, mass-produced machine that brought personal computing into the home for millions of users in the early- and mid-1980s. People used their C64s, as they were known, for everything from basic office functions to primitive games like "Impossible Mission." Commodore sold more than 17 million of its C64 systems, according to the company. The Guinness Book of World Records lists the Commodore 64 as the best-selling single computer model of all time. "Spent hours and hours writing little programs for my then very young kids .... happy days," wrote Ian Mumby last month on a Commodore 64 Facebook page. "Still have the c64 in the loft, may have to go dig it out and play." Now, nearly three decades after it debuted in 1982, the Commodore 64 is making a comeback. The company that built it, Commodore International, went bankrupt in 1994. But a revived outfit, Commodore USA, plans to release a line of retro-looking Commodore computers this month that have modern components inside. On the outside, these self-contained "keyboard computers" will look as they did back when Ronald Reagan was in the White House and "Miami Vice" was bringing moody pastel hues to TV. Under the hood, however, they will be very up-to-date. The new Commodore 64's hardware includes a dual-core 1.8 Ghz Atom processor, Nvidia Ion2 graphics chipset, up to 4 GB of RAM and HDMI output for desktop viewing on TV. It also features USB connectivity, a multi-format memory card reader and Wi-Fi capability. Prices start at $595 -- the same as the original machine. A monitor and mouse are sold separately. Pre-sales are under way, and Commodore is promising delivery by early June. Commodore USA President and CEO Barry Altman said he sought out the owners of the defunct Commodore brand and acquired the licenses to the name. He wasn't planning to reproduce a Commodore 64 model at first, but changed his mind after being flooded with requests on his website. Altman, whose reborn Commodore company is based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, began taking pre-orders on the site April 5 and was stunned by the response. "The demand for this unit is worldwide. It's far, far exceeding our wildest expectations," Altman told CNN. He said about 20,000 models were ordered in each of the first few days they went on sale in early April. "Because it's so retro, it's even been popular among kids who weren't even alive when the (original) 64 was around," he said. Altman became sold on Commodores when he ran his satellite communications company on almost 200 Commodore 64s in the 1980s. "It was a great product, with a great form factor," he said. "It contains the entire computer inside the keyboard. It takes up no extra room." The C64 became hugely popular because it had more memory and was much cheaper than comparable models from IBM and Apple. It could also be hooked up to almost any ordinary television, which served as a monitor. Altman said his research showed brand recognition of 87% for the Commodore 64, a remarkable score for a model that's been off the market for 17 years. Options range from a classically styled $250 plastic shell for DIYers who want to insert their own motherboard and hard drive, to a fully loaded $895 "Ultimate" system with 1 TB of storage space and a Blu-ray drive. Commodore's historical VIC line of 8-bit personal computers is also getting an overhaul. And Altman promises a new line of computers based on the popular Commodore Amiga brand will also arrive soon. Replicating the look and feel of the original Commodore 64 machines was a "monumental undertaking," he said. To get the distinctive tan color just right, Altman had to send samples to a lab to be analyzed and reproduced. "That original color -- brown, tan, beige, whatever you want to call it -- must have been designed by an alien," he said. The original Commodore 64s may conjure up fond memories in millions of former arcade-loving adolescents. But will the system's storied past and chunky beige aesthetic be enough to attract today's computer users, who have been weaned on the sleek stylings and slick interfaces of Apple devices? If Altman is worried about that, he's not saying. "I was taken by surprise by the scope of (the interest)," he told CNN. "Nostalgia is a big thing. There are a tremendous amount of people who have been brought up on the Commodore 64."
Posts: 5,264

05-09-2011, 12:55 PM	#2
bowener BAMF! Join Date: Nov 2007 Casino cash: $9549897	trying to be retro or just missed that this is a repost? __________________ Main Entry: bowe·ner Pronunciation: \ˈbō-nər\ Function: noun Date: circa 2007
Posts: 8,358

05-09-2011, 12:56 PM	#3
Molitoth Mahomes Fanboi Join Date: Apr 2004 Casino cash: $184969	rofl. FAIL. The specs inside aren't even that good, and who the eff would want an ugly ass C64 system?
Posts: 20,296

05-09-2011, 01:32 PM	#4
Bump YOU take YOUR seat Join Date: Nov 2007 Casino cash: $-1624895	I'm ready for a new generation of consoles and a new generation of servers for online gaming, but I don't think that the c64 is it.
Posts: 38,209

05-09-2011, 06:47 PM	#7
Pedro Starter Join Date: May 2011 Casino cash: $10004900	I think it's kind of a cool idea. If the NFL can wear retro uniforms, I like the idea of using retro computers.
Posts: 92

05-09-2011, 08:33 PM	#8
notorious Supporter Join Date: May 2005 Location: Who knows? Casino cash: $-934116	Atom processor = FAIL
Posts: 88,578

05-09-2011, 08:43 PM	#9
beach tribe Keep doubting J MFing Houston Join Date: May 2007 Location: ft.lauderdale Casino cash: $3908036	C64 can look forward to bankruptcy again.
Posts: 21,429

05-09-2011, 09:08 PM	#11
Frazod Did you hear what I said? Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $-746615	Here's an idea - let's bring back the Chevy Chevette, only with a bad ass modern engine!
Posts: 121,763

05-11-2011, 08:17 AM	#14
dannybcaitlyn Supporter Join Date: Oct 2004 Casino cash: $3194000	When my parents bought my commodore 64 it was a nail in the coffin for my Atari game sytem. My friends and I would play the crap out of winter games, summers games and worldgames.
Posts: 7,713